Chapter 596 - 517: Dark Moon Hall

Chapter 596: Chapter 517: Dark Moon Hall

Holland gazed at the mine tunnels, which had become empty and desolate in a matter of moments. In the distance, the few entrances emitting an eerie, pale glow stared into the darkness like silent eyes. He let out a sharp whistle, shattering the stagnant silence.

"Look at this spectacle!"

He rubbed his hands together. Far from being nervous, his brown eyes glinted with eagerness.

"They cleared the place out faster than a tavern at closing time! This so-called ’Dark Moon Gathering’ sure has some style."

He turned, a curious and coaxing smile on his face, and sidled up to Roland, lowering his voice.

"Hey, Rudolph! Don’t you happen to have that ’ticket’ in your pocket, courtesy of a friendly sponsorship from Mr. ’Viper’?"

He pointed to the spot where Roland had stashed the black card with its silver stamping, then jutted his chin toward the pale halos of light.

"We’re already here, and you’re not interested in the common goods at this market anyway. So why don’t... we go take a look inside?"

His voice was filled with an adventurous allure.

"The real ’premium stuff,’ the good things that can’t see the light of day, are probably being traded in there! And who knows..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping pointedly over Roland’s deep, calm face as he lowered his voice even further.

"...you might stumble upon something that ’jogs your memory,’ or hear some special news that could help... pry open a crack in that empty noggin of yours and help you remember something, eh?"

Roland’s interest was piqued.

’Holland’s words were exaggerated and goading, but he had a point.’

’I’m holding this silver-stamped card that grants me entry. It would be far too cautious not to at least push open the door and take a peek, especially when it’s right here in front of me.’

’Even if my funds are limited and I can’t compete for any rare treasures that might be for sale, witnessing the true "underbelly" of this era’s trade firsthand would be incredibly beneficial for understanding the deeper workings of this continent at this point in time.’

"Alright."

Roland gave a slight nod, having made his decision.

He then looked at the others, his tone calm yet cautionary.

"Once we’re inside, keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouths shut. Our goal is to observe, not to cause trouble. We must be cautious in all things. Understood?"

Ogre nodded respectfully, a sight that looked particularly comical on his burly frame.

Holland immediately straightened up and gave a slightly exaggerated "Yes, sir!" gesture, though the eager smile never left his face.

Ellis pressed his lips together and gave a somewhat stiff nod in response.

Though he disliked Holland, he remained wary of Roland’s calm yet commanding presence and the unfathomable power he had just displayed. He also felt a flicker of inexplicable trust.

Just as they were about to leave, Copper Tongue, who had been cowering in the shadows behind them, spoke up timidly.

Wringing his hands, he avoided their eyes, his voice barely a whisper.

"M-my lord... inside... a-as for us..."

Copper Tongue glanced sideways at the few henchmen behind him and continued.

"We... we won’t be going in, will we? People as insignificant as us, we’re afraid we’d be an eyesore to you great lords, and... and we’re afraid we might accidentally cause some trouble."

"We can wait for you at the market entrance, or head back to town. We absolutely won’t wander off, I swear. Is... is that alright with you?"

Roland glanced at them.

’Copper Tongue and his men weren’t faking their terror.’

’Their pale faces and trembling fingers revealed a genuine Fear of the area they were about to enter.’

’Forcing these timid and weak guides to follow us would probably just invite unnecessary trouble.’

"Fine."

Roland didn’t press the issue.

"Wait outside. Stay safe."

As if granted a full pardon, Copper Tongue and his men bowed repeatedly. Then, like startled rats, they spun around, hunched over, and scurried into the sparse crowd retreating toward the exit, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

After watching them leave, Roland looked away and hesitated no longer.

He pulled the black, silver-edged card from his coat and took the lead, striding toward the nearest mine tunnel entrance and its eerie, pale glow.

Holland and Ogre flanked him, following close behind.

After a brief hesitation, Ellis took a deep breath and followed. From beneath the Shadow of his hood, his gray-blue eyes locked onto the figure ahead as it was gradually swallowed by the pale glow.

As he drew nearer, Roland discovered the pale light wasn’t harsh on the eyes. Instead, it seemed to have a light-absorbing Trait, making the already dim surroundings feel even more profound.

There were no Guards at the entrance, only a visible curtain of faint, silvery light that rippled like the surface of water.

As Roland approached with the black card in hand, the crescent moon and key insignia on it glowed faintly. The curtain of light silently parted, creating an opening.

A draft of air, colder than the outside and carrying a mixed scent of ancient dust and some strange incense, wafted out from the opening.

The four of them stepped through one by one.

Behind them, the faint silver curtain of light silently closed, completely sealing them off from the last vestiges of the outside world’s noise and normalcy.

The passage beyond the curtain of light was a stark contrast to the noisy, coarse black market outside.

The floor was paved with some kind of smooth, dark stone. While the walls were still natural rock, they had clearly been polished and were embedded with Crystal Stones that emitted a constant, pale, cold light.

The air, though still chilly, was free of the foul odors from outside. Instead, the faint, elegant scent of an invigorating incense drifted through it, clearly the result of some special treatment.

Ellis’s gray-blue eyes swept his surroundings as his fingers subconsciously traced a few patterns in the air, as if he were trying to perceive the Magic Flow.